STG Stethoscope System Overview
The Handheld STG brings computing power to stethoscopes. Using an output of an electronic stethoscope, the STG displays the sounds that the physician is hearing and stores them on the PDA. These lung and heart sounds can be replayed along with a waveform visualization in the time or frequency domain. Waveform displays reveal diagnostic information often not heard on the auscultation. In addition, the STG software analyzes lung sounds for the presence of abnormal sounds. Wheezes and crackles are counted and displayed on the PDA screen. Captured sounds can be shared with other physicians or saved for future reference.
The Handheld STG can be used as a phonocardiogram and is also designed for the recording, replay, display and automated analysis of lung sounds. STG is the only commercially available device for all of these clinical uses. In addition to STG software, the Handheld STG systems are preinstalled with a comprehensive set of Microsoft applications, including Word, Excel, email, calendar, address book, task manager, notes and dictation. A wide range of clinical handbooks, drug guides and administrative applications are available.
The STG system consists of a Pocket PC (with audio input feature), an electronic stethoscope, STG for Pocket PC™ software for sounds recording, visualization, and analysis running on a Pocket PC and a companion STG for PC™ software for sounds visualization and analysis running on a desktop or notebook computer. Customers can order one of the STG systems or ala carte.
Compaq iPAQ Pocket PC h5450, T-Mobile Pocket PC Phone Edition, O2 xda Pocket PC Phone Edition, Toshiba 2032 Pocket PC Phone Edition, and the Verizon Thera Pocket PC Phone Edition have audio input jacks. Verizon Thera can be purchased directly from Verizon stores and online. T-Mobile Pocket PC Phone Edition can be purchased from VoiceStream/T-Mobile stores and from Amazon.com. You can then order the appropriate electronic/acoustic stethoscope with STG software kit.
STG Stethoscope Software Features
Patient Records, Sound Capture and Storage
An important feature of the STG system is the correlation of lung sounds with patient records. Physicians and nurses can enter patient name, optional comments and the location of the chest piece for each recording. Each 20 second heart or lung sound is recorded and identified with the patient and the location of the chest piece.
These sound recording are stored on the iPAQ Pocket PC for reference during the examination or afterwards. The files can be emailed to colleagues using the standard email software in the iPAQ. Using the included Microsoft synchronization software, patient recordings can be uploaded to a PC.
Some healthcare personnel elect to print the waveforms and place these reports in the patients file. Using printed or electronic reports, a history of patient sound recordings and waveforms can play an important role in monitoring the course of illnesses.
Lung Sound Display, Playback and Analysis
The STG for Pocket PC™ allows direct visual and simultaneous audible detection of the normal and abnormal sounds. The sound recording system has a frequency filter which can be used to tune the system for lung or heart sounds. These sounds can be displayed, recorded and played back, for each auscultation position.
As a check on the physician's interpretation, the STG counts fine and coarse crackles, wheezes, and irregular patterns of inspiration and expiration. These counts are displayed on a bar chart and the waveform is marked accordingly. The spectrum (spectra density), of the sound recording can also be displayed by selecting a toolbar icon.
Heart Sound Display and Analysis
For heart sounds, a phonocardiogram is displayed in real time. Prior to recording, the physician can choose to filter sounds by frequency, a feature which is similar to that offered by electronic stethoscopes.
The display can be controlled in both sound amplitude and in the time axis. Sound normalization can also be selected. Heart beat rate is provided on the display. Optionally, the STG will mark the waveform for significant heart sound features for all or a selected portion of the recording.
Desktop PC Viewer
The iPAQ Pocket PC comes equipped with a docking station that establishes data communications between Pocket PC and a Windows desktop personal computer. Using this connection, patient recordings can be moved from the mobile device to the desktop.
With the recording files on the desktop, three significant functions are facilitated. First, the recordings can be permanently stored on the hard drive, burned to a CD-ROM or printed. Second, selected recordings can be emailed. Finally, the recordings can be viewed on the desktop using the companion STG for PC™ Desktop Viewer. For example, this application can be used to display patient heart murmurs over time, allowing the physician to study the patient's treatment progress over a period of time.
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